Governor Greg Gianforte on Sunday arrived in Taipei for a trade mission to strengthen Montana’s longstanding relationship with Taiwan, a hub for democracy and technological innovation in East Asia. Representatives of Montana’s agricultural, semiconductor, photonics, and bioscience industries joined the governor on the trade mission.
“Taiwan is one of Montana’s most important trading partners, sharing our values of freedom and free enterprise,” Gov. Gianforte said. “It’s an honor to be on the ground in Taipei to strengthen our longstanding relationship with Taiwan, promote our world-class Montana commodities and growing industries, and expand Montanans’ access to this critical market.”
Promoting Montana agriculture, Gov. Gianforte today met with the U.S. Wheat Associates and the Taiwan Flour Miller Association, the main importer of Montana wheat. Taiwan is also an important market for Montana cattle producers, with $16 million of Montana beef exported to Taiwan last year.
Turk Stovall, Montana Stockgrowers Association Second Vice President arrived in Taipei, Taiwan joined Governor Gianforte and a delegation of Montana business representatives. Stovall is one of 15 representatives from the Montana food and agriculture sectors and the only representative focused solely on opportunities to expand the demand of Montana beef.
While in Taiwan, Stovall will be working to establish business relationships and explore opportunities for U.S. beef exports to the region. Taiwan is currently one of Montana’s top trade partners, mostly for agricultural products.
In recent years, Montana Stockgrowers Association has met with Taiwan’s Director General and Vice Consul for lunch to discuss trade opportunities. In October 2021, MSGA hosted a delegation from Taiwan on a ranch tour at the Hahn Ranch in Townsend, and this past spring MSGA met the Director General while he was in Helena.
On Sunday evening, the governor attended a welcome dinner for members of the delegation hosted by the Montana Grain Growers Association. Wheat represents Montana’s largest and most consistent export to Taiwan, totaling $32 million in sales last year.
The governor reopened the Montana Asia Trade Office in Taipei in October 2021 to generate new business opportunities for Montana and expand sales and investments across the wheat, pulse crops, machinery, education, optics, coal, and pharmaceutical sectors.
Last year, Taiwan purchased over $107 million in goods from Montana.
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Northern Ag Network, Governor Greg Gianforte, MSGA – 2023
